Just For You

WARNING: This Chapter contains violence

Jonghyun left the hallway with a sigh. It was late, and he wanted to sleep, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to. His head was too busy to sleep. He followed his feet to the ring. Thankfully, he was alone. Jonghyun sat on the dirt floor and rested his face against the wooden barrier of the stands. It felt cool and relaxing, like a cloth dipped in cold water. Jonghyun quickly lost track of how much time he was spending up against the barrier. It was the type of simple pleasure that Jonghyun was sure he had lost when he got to this circus.

Breath in

Breath out

At times like this, Jonghyun almost wished there was a clock in the ring. Something to fill the thick silence.

Breath in

Breath out

A tear slipped out of Jonghyun’s eye. Something he wasn’t expecting. He wiped it away quickly, and squeezed his eyes shut.

Breath in

Breath out

Suddenly, another breath overlapped Jonghyun’s. Jonghyun opened his eyes and froze. The breath was coming from the tent entrance. Suddenly, the sound of ripping wood entered the ring, followed by the sound of two planks falling over each other. The breathing grew briefly heavier. Jonghyun didn’t dare move a muscle.

Footsteps, and something like a spur rolling against the dirt. Three men walked past Jonghyun. Since he was parallel to them, and low to the ground, they must not have noticed him.

“Check the stands,” One said. “Start up there.” The men passed Jonghyun completely and ascended the stands on the other side of the entrance from Jonghyun. Jonghyun turned his head carefully, trying to get a good look at them, or an exit, when he saw Minho come into the ring. Minho’s eyes went wide. Jonghyun swore they would pop right out.

Gunfire. One shot. Jonghyun clapped his hand sot his mouth as he watched the large bullet his Minho’s side and topple him over. In a rush of adrenaline, Jonghyun popped up to his feet and ran towards Minho. The men yelled at him, but he ignored the knowledge that they would shoot at him soon as well. Jonghyun grabbed Minho by the arm and dragged him along as he skidded out of the men’s line of view. A bullet hit the wall just as he passed it. Cursing under his breath, Jonghyun continued dragging Minho down the hall.

“JINKI!” He yelled “ANYONE! HEY! HELP!”

Luna came rushing into the hall, and her eyes went wide. Jonghyun turned to see one of them men coming after them. He quickly dragged Minho past Luna. Before the man could raise his gun, Luna waved her hand, and the wall burst into pieces, sending debris into the man. He fell to the ground with a loud grunt.

“Go!” Luna yelled. “Run!”

Jonghyun didn’t need to be told twice. He pulled Minho’s arms over his shoulders and ran like a sled dog, Minho’s feet dragging behind. Victoria emerged next, passing Jonghyun to join Luna. Jonghyun took Minho to Jinki’s room, at the end of the bend in the hallway. He pushed the door open, revealing it to be empty. Carefully, he lay Minho down on the carpeting. His side was bleeding. Jonghyun’s hands were sweaty and shaking. The first thing he did was grabbing all of the sheets from Jinki’s bed. Lifting Minho’s shirt, he wrapped a sheet around the wound. Minho ground his teeth. Jonghyun noticed only now that he hadn’t stopped cursing.

“What- “ Jonghyun turned to find Amber in the doorway, Taemin peeking in behind her.

“Hyung!” Taemin cried, pushing his way in. He dropped to his knees next to Minho and clasped his hands to Minho’s face. Jonghyun stood up shakily and made room for him, and Amber as she knelt down as well. With a deep breath, he slipped out of the room.

The hallway was empty besides the wooden splinters scattered everywhere. There was commotion in the ring. Jonghyun went to Kibum’s room.

The window was open, and the room was empty. Too much time had passed; there was no leaving the grounds. Jonghyun climbed out the window and circled around the back of the tent. There was Kibum, sitting down with his hands over his ears. Jonghyun crouched down in front of him. Kibum looked scared out of his mind.

“Kibum” Jonghyun said in his calmest voice. Kibum shook his head.

“They have guns, don’t they?” He whispered. Jonghyun hesitated before nodding. Kibum quickly stood up. He passed the tent, and Jonghyun followed him.

“Kibum!” Jonghyun shouted. Kibum ran for the barrier. “Kibum!”

A rock rolled out from under Kibum’s foot, knocking him onto his back. The rock rolled into the border and popped back into the air. Kibum yelled in fear. Jonghyun rushed to him and moved to help him up. Kibum pushed him away and stood up on his own.

“Get out of here! Give up! They won’t kill you! They don’t want you dead!” Kibum shouted. Jonghyun didn’t have time to respond. “You’re gonna get us killed!”

“Hey!”

Jonghyun whipped around to see one of the men stalking up to them, unfolding a switchblade. There was just a shadow of a grin on his face. Jonghyun backed up, putting up his arms in front of Kibum instinctively.

“Here, kitty kitty,” the man hissed. Jonghyun felt Kibum shoving him down to the ground, out of the way. The man grinned and lunged at Kibum. Jonghyun’s body moved on its own. He jumped between Kibum and the man’s knife. A sharp, cold feeling pierced his abdomen. Jonghyun didn’t feel the pain until the blade stopped in his flesh. He doubled over with a groan, the pain jumping throughout his limbs.

“Jonghyun!” Kibum screamed. Jonghyun felt the knife pulling back out, and he gripped the handle to keep it in. He would bleed out if the hole were left open. Besides, he couldn’t let that knife get anywhere Kibum.

Jonghyun and the attacker struggled for a drawn-out moment. Somehow, in some burst of adrenaline, Jonghyun managed to wrench the knife from the man’s hand. Unfortunately, this also pulled it from himself. Jonghyun could already feel the blood on his hands up to his wrists. The knife rolled in Kibum’s direction, and Jonghyun moved to pick it up. The man dove for it, knocking Kibum onto his back and pushing Jonghyun out of the way. Their hands reached it at the same time.

Jonghyun was breathing hard. He was panicking. He knew that every breath was another pump of blood from his body. He had to get the knife, fast.

Jonghyun’s arm moved in sync with the man’s. They rolled in the dirt, trying to pry the knife from each other’s hands. Eventually, the man was sitting on Jonghyun’s chest. Jonghyun gasped for air, feeling himself slip away. While Jonghyun gripped the knife, the man freed one hand and brought another knife from his boot. He was poised to throw the knife at Kibum, who was still trying to get to his feet.

Jonghyun knew he was dead. He wasn’t about to let Kibum go with him.

He bore all of his strength into twisting the knife and pushing it upwards, stabbing the attacker in the heart. The man spat blood onto Jonghyun’s face before rolling off of him into the dirt. Jonghyun kicked him away.

Clutching his side, Jonghyun crawled towards Kibum. Kibum’s ankle was twisted, and his cheeks were stained with tear trails.

“J-Jonghy-u-un,” He sobbed. Jonghyun continued crawling until he could put his hand on Kibum’s leg.

“See, you i…idiot?’ Jonghyun wheezed, moving his fingers to try and block the blood flow. “I… I do c-care… I gave up my… he-eart, j… just for you.”

“J-jonghyun,” Kibum repeated, weakly grabbing onto Jonghyun’s shoulders. Jonghyun put his free hand on Kibum’s cheek, wiping the hair from his face, and leaving a red handprint.

“Just… for… you…” Jonghyun breathed. And then everything spun out of sight. 

<3 Thank you for comments so far! <3

Stay tuned for chapter 27!